Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1895 — RESULTS IN TWO DEATHS. [ARTICLE]

RESULTS IN TWO DEATHS.

Accident on the Whaleback Christopher Columbus. The result of the accident on the whale- • back steamer Christopher Columbus on a “WSJrtßgfffKmr Mtlwatfee to Chicago Satiir** day night was the death of two men, fatal injury to another, three seriously scalded aqd seven slightly burned. The accident was caused by the bursting of a steam pipe. It was the homeward runTof the whaleback in its opening summer excursion to Milwaukee. About 350 souls were aboard. Flying flags, with music and dancing, was the order of the evening. The accident on the Christopher Columbus, according to the engineering authorities, is one of the unaccountable things that occasionally occur in steam plants. A cast-iron pipe eight inches in diameter and three-quarters of an inch thick suddenly cracked around its entire circumference under a steam pressure of less than 165 pounds, after haviug previously stood a test pressure of 255 pounds to the inch. The stories of the accident being caused by straining in a race with the Virginia are denied by every officer of the Columbus. <

The circumstances, as related by the boat’s officers, were as follows: The cylinders of the engine were entirely new, and it would be destructive and dangerous to run them at high speed until the parts wore down. Two representatives of the engine builders were on board and constantly reminded the engineers not to use speed. Chief Engineer Webster says the speed was ninety revolutions, whereas the boat has made 130 a minute, and steam pressure was 160 pounds to the square inch, while the government allows 170. Captain Robert Smith says that he had reckoned the speed just before the explosion and it was about sixteen miles an hour. The whaleback has made twentyone miles an hour. As further evidence of the fact that there was no race the statement is made that the Virginia had passed the whaleback and was two milea ahead.